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This article contains reference to child abuse.
Four additional Melbourne childcare centres have been identified as locations where alleged sex offender Joshua Dale Brown was employed.
Authorities are working to contact the families whose children attended the centres during Brown’s employment between August 2024 and February this year.
The newly listed locations, all operated by Affinity Education, include Kids Academy Waratah Estate in Mickleham, as well as Milestones Early Learning centres in Tarneit, Greensborough, and Braybrook.
Brown has been charged with more than 70 sex offences against eight alleged victims younger than two at a centre at Point Cook, in south-west Melbourne, between April 2022 and January 2023.
Police believe Brown has worked at 23 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025.
Alongside the amended list of dates and locations, police confirmed that Brown did not work at Papilio Early Learning in Hoppers Crossing between 22 August 2024 and 12 March 2025.
“Where additional dates have been identified, impacted families will be contacted by the Department of Health from 15 July, 2025,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
“A key focus of the investigation has been establishing a complete work history for Brown.
“This has been extremely complex due to Childcare Approved providers not having centralised records, requiring detectives to execute search warrants to obtain handwritten records, shift rosters and other critical information.”
Since the charges came to light on 1 July, police have received more than 270 Crime Stoppers reports.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath said the department was contacting around 830 families to offer support and provide testing recommendations.
“This is obviously a highly distressing situation, and I want to reassure all families being contacted that the potential exposure risk to an infectious disease for their child remains low,” McGrath said.
“Our recommendation for testing is a precaution and the test results we’ve received to date as part of this investigation reaffirms that the risk is low.”
McGrath said there remains no wider public health risk, and the diseases being tested for can be treated with antibiotics.
Parents ‘furious’ over earlier allegations
It was revealed on Sunday that Brown was the subject of two separate internal investigations at G8 Education, both unrelated to sexual abuse and occurring after the alleged incidents he has been charged over.
The two events were substantiated and reported to state authorities but Brown’s working with children certificate remained in place.
Melody Glaister’s daughter, now six, attended the Creative Garden Early Learning Centre Point Cook during Brown’s employment at the centre.
She told AAP she was “furious” to learn of the earlier abuse allegations, and outraged that he was allowed to retain his approval to work with children despite them.
“If the appropriate action had been taken, it’s very likely there would be hundreds of parents right now that wouldn’t be in the same situation,” she said.
The first investigation in April 2023 found Brown had aggressively handled an upset child without offering emotional support. He received a formal warning and was placed on a performance plan before taking three months’ leave.
In January 2024, Brown was suspended and later resigned following new allegations, including raising his voice at three children and forcibly grabbing one child’s arm, another’s leg, and pulling off a child’s shoe.
The company confirmed the allegations were substantiated.
Brown was later employed by Affinity Education, which only became aware of the recent allegations through recent media reports.
Victoria’s acting premier Jaclyn Symes was asked on Monday why the complaints had not triggered Brown to lose his working with children check.
Symes declined to comment on why Brown was allowed to continue working with children, citing the ongoing police investigation.
Victoria’s rapid child safety review would consider if a complaint or allegation should trigger the permit to be suspended or cancelled, Symes said.
Glaister called it a “systemic failure”, saying multiple parties must be held accountable.
She described the past two weeks as a whirlwind, adding she never imagined her child would have to undergo testing.
“I can’t fathom how I’m in a situation where I’ve had to get my six-year-old tested for sexually transmitted infections,” she said.
“It’s not something that any parent should ever have to go through … this should never have happened.”
Readers seeking support can ring Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information is available at beyondblue.org.au and lifeline.org.au.
Anyone seeking information or support relating to sexual abuse can contact Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380.
